BUDGET LES PAUL Challenge - Epiphone Les Paul Standard VS Vintage V100

[@TheGuitalian]

Hey folks, so, which one is your favorite? Remember to subscribe to the channel, it's an offer you can't refuse! ;)

[@brianm9902]

Vintage is single body, I own a very similar guitar the Humbuckers are PAF Seth Lover Design which he did with Trevor Wilkinson, terms of tone the Vintage eats the Epiphone ,as my guitar tech said who owns a Les Paul this is as close you can get to a Les Paul without the price, and he said no wonder Gibson is not happy

[@paulg7002]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul and a Vintage Lemondrop. Both are great guitars but after 5 years the Lemondrop is developing cracks in the finish. The Epiphone Les Paul is 10 years old and looks like it did when I bought it. VINTAGE ONLY PROVIDES A LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY. I don’t like companies that don’t stand behind their products.

[@carlosluis1345]

@@paulg7002 I have a Vintage V100 AFD for three years and I dont have this problem, maybe is just your guitar

[@dazednconfused-r4o]

Considering that in my country the Vintage is almost half the price of the Epi, it's no competition at all for value. Vintage V100 all the way

[@sEaNoYeAh]

​@@paulg7002 that's a shame. They've been making those for a long time, a number are 10 years+ old at this point and this is the first I've heard of cracking finish, so that's unfortunate.

[@kimseniorb]

v100 hands down. more mids, tighter, more harmonics, really nice. epi sounded like it had a blanket over it or tone control rolled off

[@_FuriousGeorge_]

This is a opinion based decision, but I own both and honestly love my Vintage better! It’s less expensive and sounds better to my ear! Great purchase when on a budget and amazing the tones you get out of them!

[@spiceweasel945]

I sold my Epiphone LP after a couple of years of never really feeling right with it. I bought a Vintage v100 TSB (knowing nothing about the brand) and it’s awesome. I’ve now had it for years and honestly prefer it to my (very expensive) late 80’s Gibson. The Vintage just feels great to play and super resonant unplugged. It makes me want to pick it up more than my other guitars. It’s surprising but delightful. Highly recommend.

[@iangoldie6396]

I have the V100 PGM Lemon Drop. Can't fault it in any department, in a blind test plays and sounds every bit as good if not better than any Gibson I've played

[@theessay2530]

I have the lemon drop as well beautiful guitar plays very well great value for money

[@stevenwalton5722]

There’s a shop in my town that sells a lot of vintage. They look fantastic!! I’ve not played one yet as I don’t want to be too tempted when I’m only nipping in for strings!! There’s a gold top p90 in the shop. Looks brilliant

[@iangoldie6396]

@@stevenwalton5722 the Gold Top is a fantastic guitar, can get them on ebay good as new for around £200 and you won't stress too much about it getting dinged or whatnot when gigging

[@robertst9149]

I have had v100 since 2008 and I am very happy with it.

[@thenovicenoisemaker]

I’ve had several of both. I prefer the Vintage but the only downside IMO is they don’t sit on your leg quite as well. Their weight is slightly tilted back

[@naturalianoss]

Wear a strap

[@1000sofusernames]

Just bought a v100 after years of shred orientated Ibanez stuff. Wish I'd bought one years ago. What a guitar

[@keithshwalbe6981]

The Vintage for me. Has more note leading edge attack.

[@AtariForeva]

Vintage pickups have more bite, closer to Les Paul. I have V100 in Tobacco sunburst and it's great. Btw hard rock riff was Whitesnake's Still Of The Night, great tune!

[@smkh2890]

I have one too, and put in some old Gibson SG pickups . It's a keeper, and half the price of the Gibson. Not a fan of the Wilkinson pickups, frankly.

[@howlinwaters]

i've never liked Epiphone headstocks on LP copies - blows the whole look of the guitar to me; the Vintage looks more like a LP headstock.

[@elderscratch9996]

Its Still Of The Night by Whitesnake .. I think its vivian campbell .. Steve Vai played with Whitesnake before Vivian Campbell took over and Steve Vai went to go pllay with David Lee Roth .. If my memory tells me correct .. Great Show !! Im sittng here strumming my jackson dinky i got the other day .. So far So Good !!

[@smkh2890]

This what I was waiting for. As a Vintage brand fan, I have a few, I reckon it should be noticeably better than the Epi. Also worth looking into the Vintage SG copy to compare with a low-end Gibson.

[@southhams]

Big Epiphone fan but the Vintage V100 pgm is my favourite Les Paul, especially the PU's 🙂👍🎸

[@ryanmausolf656]

I'm surprised no one called it yet. That riff towards the end sure sounded like "Still of The Night".....A little Whitesnake yeah? BTW... great review, and great playing man.

[@TheGuitalian]

Love them. Thanks man, appreciated

[@telecomex]

Great video! GREAT playing man! You are gifted. I own the a 2010 Vintage V100CS, but sure don't sound like you! Thanks for a very entertaining 11 minutes. Regards from Vancouver, BC ss

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks! Appreciated!

[@adrian_V99]

Well-done! I have a bias in favoiur of Epiphone. Plus that pointed horn annoys me aesthetically on the Vintage, but then they had to do so to avoid a lawsuit. I expect the radius on the Vintage to deviate from Gibson/EPI's 12 ".

[@11000038]

I have 2 Vintage guitars. A v100 and a Tele. They play and sound really nice!

[@albertoz6765]

They both sound good. Personally, I'd choose the Epi over the Vintage on looks only. That being said, the one you reviewed is not the 2020 model (which has a solid maple cap, posh electronics and a better looking headstock). I would be curious to see how that one stacks up against the Vintage.

[@TheGuitalian]

I’m about to upload in the next hours another single cut guitars challenge that includes the 2020 epiphone as well, stick around for that

[@albertoz6765]

@@TheGuitalian Ottimo, non vedo l'ora 👍🏻

[@lookmammesonyaotoob5392]

He even said it was a 2018

[@faizeljoemrati6329]

That riff was Whitesnake Still of the night 😎 , Grazie Mille 🤘🏾

[@John_Doe657]

I like the neck pickup sound on the v100 more and the bridge pickup sound of the epi

[@ferramirez4570]

Both sounds amazing! Actually but I would prefered the vintage over Epi, I mean the new epis looks and sounds amazing but still the headstock!

[@stratstruck324]

JHS-owned Vintage guitars are great.. the only downside to their V100 models is the neck profile, they all come with a thinner neck.

[@Worlds_Worst_Guitarist]

Great comparision! I have 2 Vintage V100 Guitars, one is yours the other the PGM Model. Both are upgraded in Hardware, Pots/Caps, Pickups. But NOOOOO way they could hold up to my Epiphone '59 Outfit Les Paul which is a totally different league.

[@spencerludman3915]

I love the V100. I thought about getting one and putting whiskerbuckers in.

[@visual33]

Excellent comparison review, thank you.

[@glenrappold5393]

I owned both of these (in different colors), as well as a Gibson LP Standard, and the Vintage sounds much closer to the Gibson. The pu's on the Epi didn't have the definition and note articulation of either the Gibson or the Vintage. I ended up selling the Epi. Still have the other two.

[@uptownphotography]

Nice video and well done comparison of the two models. They both sound really good and I'd say the differences are really minor. A long time friend of mine, Greg, is considering the Vintage model and I think he would be very happy with it....Now if I could just get him back here to the US to visit and jam!...Then we'd both be happy. I gave you a sub. Thanks. Phil NYC Area

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks for your comment and for the sub! Cheers!

[@SeemoreDunkan]

Thank you :) Please do a comparison when upgrading the pickups!

[@mattchurchill]

Nice playing mate👍

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks! Appreciated!

[@scottschmittmusic]

Perfect Review in every way.. exactly what I was looking for.. Thank You! Great Playing!!

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks, appreciated!

[@cristiantiple6072]

The first difference is the neck profile, and that is something you wont mod. epiphone's neck is more fat, vintage is slim. The tone... well, that comes from the amp. I have changed the hummbuckers in both... and keep one in drop c and the other in E standard. What I dont like on the epi is the cheap look of the fretboard color.

[@davidgluskie8620]

I just bought a vintage v100 icon distressed black over sunburst.... we will see how it goes???

[@oogabooga2337]

How is it

[@docgify]

@@oogabooga2337 it’s a really nice guitar,lookswize it’s one of the nicest ever….I’ve maybe changed the electronics the pickups the hardware lol but I do that to all my guitars….I prefer faber brass hardware in the ‘aged’ look…but yeah it’s not stock anymore but it looks great and I got it playing smazing

[@docgify]

@@oogabooga2337 I have a seymour duncan magnet flipped and reversed pup in the neck (reversed zebra sh-1n 59 or whatever) and an antiquity bridge in the electronic ive gone with 50s wiring gavitt cloth vintage style switch 0.015uF luxe cap bumblebee in neck and same in bridge but 0.022 micro farad…so I do stylise my guitars a bit it actually made it sound insanely good

[@MrJuan2828]

Wow, is that intro yours or some band's? it sounds super good

[@TheGuitalian]

It's a mock up of various Slash and Guns'n Roses songs and riffs that I made for this video :D

[@ArielPrado-em6rm]

Can I ask you a question? I have a vintage v100 les paul and an epiphone standard and I like the tone of the first one much better, the epiphone sounds much darker for solos and I don't like it... And I discovered that the tone knob on the neck of the vintage v100 It doesn't work, and when I opened the lid I found that one of the capacitor legs touches one of the pot's wires, while in the other tone pot it doesn't (and precisely the knob for that tone works). Could it be that this disables the pot, and is it a modification I can make to the epiphone?

[@KrachWerke]

Some nice playing!

[@TheGuitalian]

thx man!

[@alexsis274]

Love your playing and the comparison is spot on. I think the difference in sound is mostly due to the magnets, alnico5 in Vinrage and alnico2 in Epi (I suppose they are probuckers). Which one has fatter neck? I don't like the old Epiphone necks and I have a Vintage Lemon Drop, which has a realy slim C type of neck.

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks Alex, not sure about the pickups on the Epi, that’s a 2018 model and it has a kind of slim c neck that you don’t really like. I’ll post another comparison video with the 2020 model and some other contenders, stick around for that! ;)

[@johnbrooke9948]

The vintage has ceramic paf pickups

[@bryanp8010]

I’d have to play one but I hate the pointy horn. Prs definitely got it right

[@rmcf3972]

which would you choose? epiphone les paul standard 50s gold top OR vintage v100 afd slash?

[@navrasicsi]

Vintage is closer to my musical taste. I could hear that "click" in the lead tone I really like. It's hard to discribe I'm thinking of.

[@jeffmariajenson9751]

I really enjoy your reviews.

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks! deeply appreciated

[@GulfPrideOil]

Tried so many guitars over the years. Never understood the hype around Epiphone, they are a terrible brand and now even totally overpriced. Vintage beats them hands-down everyday, both quality & looks wise. Love your version of You Could Be Mine by the way!

[@MrJuan2828]

They are offering me the 2 guitars, the V100 for $400 and the Epiphone standard 50s with Seymour Duncan JB/59 for $500, which one would be more worth it? Would the Epiphone with Seymour Duncan be better?

[@TheGuitalian]

Probably the Epiphone

[@MrJuan2828]

​@@TheGuitalianThanks for your reply, another question and sorry to bother you, if you had a standard Epiphone 50s for $400 and a vintage V100 for $350, which would you honestly go for? Which do you think is a better guitar in the long run? I don't have the opportunity to try them out, I just have to buy them.

[@voxwah75]

the lacquer on epiphone is so thick that it muffles the sound more than it does on most other brands. The build quality is okay, the pick-ups dito, but the 'acoustic' sound of it is always a bit worse than competitors in the same price range because of the excessive amount of lacquer.

[@claudiosuarez1256]

Great video 🙂👍👍

[@SanyiTatrai]

I have both,comfortable and inspiring both... reliable tuning and comfortqble necks. Vintage is lighter and empty inside? To make them sound great i throw out the pickups from both. Tone caps on Vintage sucked,rythm pickup in vintage was crap... the Epi’s pickups were also very muddy and too muvh bass.... now with some great pickups they are both superCOOL!!!

[@ignaciobustamante6477]

Hi bro, the amp on this clip is the origin 20 but with a booster or just the amp? thanks! and great comparisson.!!

[@TheGuitalian]

I used a booster as well in some clips, a soul food by EHX

[@Βερολίνος]

In A/B test I would fail to distinguish which is playing. I got the V100, but it doesn't also matter because I can't play like you, lol.

[@gxs8p578]

Which would you choose? Epiphone les paul 50s standard gold or vintage v100 afd slash? I want to play guns n’ roses songs.

[@TheGuitalian]

the one that you want the most :)

[@douglaslangella7782]

I just ordered the V-100 CSB. Are the coming from the factory with 9’s or 10’s? Thanks for the video!

[@TheGuitalian]

Hi man, can’t remember right now but I guess it was 10s

[@douglaslangella7782]

@@TheGuitalian thanks!

[@deanbembridge8640]

I bet they have both had a set up and not being played straight out of the Box 🎸🎸🎵🎵

[@SRKanai1]

I love my vintage. My 98 les pauls are great. But if im being honest with myself, id take a Vintage v100 over anything Gibson has made since 2008. Yes, i know... Ill get letters.

[@eddieconnor8864]

I like them both, but I have the VINTAGE.

[@anthonythornhill8715]

Thanks for this video

[@TheGuitalian]

You’re welcome:)

[@thud1015]

Really good video and very enjoyable. I have a Gibson Les Paul custom but want a cheaper standard to play so have been looking at these two. As you state, the V100 is very good but I think Vintage have been forced to change their Kes Paul lookalikes hence the cutaway and top shoulder being altered and silly as it is it puts me off. They have also changed the finish on the AFD paradise to a real OTT brown flame, again probably threats from Gibson even though the actual guitar was a Chris Derrig clone. Anyway my selection has been narrowed down to either a Chinese Burny Lemon drop or a Chinese Tokai lemon drop or violin burst. These retail for around £500 and I already have the Burny Ace Frehley custom, and for £550 it's excellent. Thankyou for great video 😊

[@TheGuitalian]

Thanks! Appreciated!

[@alandoods]

Still of the night 🌙

[@flyhigh6591]

When you first started playing in the beginning what is the name of that song? That's something that slash played but has been a long time since I heard it. Thank you

[@TheGuitalian]

It’s a rip off of Anastasia

[@flyhigh6591]

@@TheGuitalian hy thanks man

[@Ronno4691]

You Could Be Mine.....

[@mauriziobiagini2825]

I like the vintage great guitar!

[@johnmud5085]

Vintage all day long!

[@pippopinats8782]

Bella "recinzione " Miliers 👏🏻...volevo sapere se la Vintage Paradise AFD , stile Slash differisce molto dalla V100 da te provata. Grazie e avanti con l'inglese..the book in on the TABLET 😆👌🏻✌🏻

[@generalawareness101]

I wish you would have compared them with the Ibanez AX120 as well otherwise it was good.

[@alexscott7226]

I have two of each... can't choose between them... all 4 are amazing guitars...

[@christianjohnsen5974]

Vintage best 🙂

[@FF-so3su]

Owned multiples of both; kept the vintages sold the Epiphones; draw your own conclusions.

[@JoeDirt-ok2hm]

White snake, still of the night

[@fordism.01]

The vintage sounds better . By miles

[@ThePastos1]

Vintage rules

[@jonimusprime4544]

Epiphone sounds thinner

[@AnthonyTownsend-w5y]

You neglected to mention the V100 is half the price of the Epiphone.

[@TheGuitalian]

Not when I recorded this video, years ago

[@TheGuitalian]

And I just checked, not even now, I don’t know what models are you looking at

[@jonasguns8044]

The Epiphone has a veneer on the back. Look on the side of the guitar and you will probably see 2 or 3 pieces.

[@TheGuitalian]

good to know man, thanks

[@ceebee491]

I have that vintage and it's good for £350

[@peterweise3836]

Bought one for the same price today as an Iced Tea version. Good guitar. Now my collection of classic trendsetting electric guitars is complete. I also tested a Honey Burst V100 in the music store. Astonishing the Iced Tea sounds better in my ears, fuller and warmer played over the same amp. So I bought it.

[@mikezehype]

V100 is way better !!

[@jackblack2321]

Epiphone by far!!!!❤❤❤

[@somenchakraborty5870]

Epiphone sounds more close to Gibson... 🤘

[@DC-ip1sc]

Epiphone...one piece body, I doubt that very much?

[@diegopalominoss]

why

[@DC-ip1sc]

@@diegopalominoss Due to material cost, nothing inherently wrong with glued sections, even lower end Gibsons are often two pieces glued.

[@0242OTFT]

演奏がバチクソかっこよくて内容どうでもいいわ

[@olafschwenn6881]

Epiphone

[@sandman93449dm]

Shoulda vs a Vintage Brand..the best so we woudn't have to listen to this crap LOL...

[@ThePastos1]

Vintage rules